8 Confirmed Measles Cases In Westchester County: UPDATE

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Westchester County health officials said Wednesday that measles have been confirmed in eight county children, six of whom are siblings. All the cases are from northern Westchester in the Bedford-Mount Kisco area and none of the children attend public schools or childcare programs.

Officials said the children range in age from 6 months to 14 years old. Two of the children were hospitalized, but have since been released.

The county Department of Health said it found out about the cases Tuesday and is working with families and health-care providers to identify locations where the children may have exposed others. The children, who were not vaccinated, appear to have been exposed to measles in Rockland County and Brooklyn where there have been ongoing outbreaks.

At a press conference Wednesday morning, County Executive George Latimer said the county is not considering taking any particular steps, such as in Rockland County or in New York City.

If the situation changes, "then action will be taken," he said. "This is a matter where science triumphs over political science," and that public health has to take priority.

Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said that the good news about measles it that it is preventable. She strongly urges all parents who have not vaccinated their children against measles to reconsider.

"There's a highly effective vaccine that works," she said.

The county health department will provide the MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps and rubella to anyone who needs it free of charge, Amler said, and that the county will be bringing vaccination clinics to the affected communities.

"Anyone who is unsure of his or her vaccination status should reach out to their medical provider or the schools they attended," she said.

When in doubt, she said, referring in part to adults who may not be certain about whether they're immune, get vaccinated again.

"It's not harmful to get additional doses," Amler said.

Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of measles-containing vaccine or have had a lab test confirming immunity.

She said that measles is highly contagious, and nine out of 10 people who are not immune and are exposed to measles will become infected. People can spread measles before they even know they are sick.

Amler said that people without immunity can catch measles just by being in a room for up to two hours after a person with measles has left.

"Measles can be a serious infection which can result in pneumonia, swelling of the brain, hearing loss and death," she said.

"In the past I've had people tell me they haven't vaccinated because it isn't in their community," Amler said. "Well, hello, it is now."

Rockland County declared a state of emergency in March, banning anyone under the age of 18 from public spaces. However, a judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday that effectively ended the emergency.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said Tuesday that the county was pursuing other way to protect the public heath while appealing the judge's ruling. He then said the county was issuing new orders that would require any person exposed to measles to stay home or face a significant fine. Rockland has more than 160 reported cases of measles.

New York City declared an emergency Tuesday, ordering mandatory vaccinations in its neighborhoods affected by the outbreak. The declaration will require people in Williamsburg to get vaccinated or face a $1,000 fine. The outbreak there has infected nearly 300 people.

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